16th Ohio Volunteer Infantry
90-Day Regimental History
History of Company F

Web Author's Notes:The following are excerpts from the History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, providing a brief history of Company F of the 90-day regiment.

HISTORY OF TUSCARAWAS COUNTY, OHIO
CHAPTER XIII.
THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.
ENLISTMENT OF THE TUSCARAWAS GUARDS

WHEN the tidings that Fort Sumter had fallen flashed over the country on the memorable 14th day of April, 1861, it produced in Tuscarawas County the same deep conviction of approaching and appalling warfare that was felt throughout the entire North, and when President Lincoln immediately afterward issued his call for 75,000 volunteers to suppress the rebellion, the same unbounded loyalty to the Government was exhibited here which pervaded the whole country. The recent bitter political factions and quarrels were for the time forgotten or laid aside, and the nation's danger and preservation was the only theme of conversation and subject for action, and within a few days the organization of companies was commenced in all parts of the county.

On Friday, April 19, a few posters were placarded in New Philadelphia, calling upon the people to meet at the court house the next day at 10 o'clock, to consider the perilous condition of the country. At the appointed time the house was crowded to overflowing. Judge Moffit was elected Chairman, and patriotic addresses were made by him and others, after which about sixty volunteers enrolled their names. In the afternoon of the same day, about $2,000 were subscribed by the citizens, to provide for the families of the absent volunteers. The company was completed Tuesday following, and on Wednesday an election of officers was held and the following selected: Captain, Thomas W. Collier, Sr.; First Lieutenant, C. F. Espich. Jr.; Second Lieutenant, H. Clay Hayden. Wednesday afternoon the company assembled on the square in front of the Exchange Hotel, where a flag was presented them by the ladies of New Philadelphia, and after several speeches were made and songs were sung, the boys bade their many friends farewell and took up the march for Uhrichsville. They reached Camp Jackson. Columbus, Thursday, April 25, and became Company F of the Sixteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. ...

TUSCARAWAS COUNTY IN THE FIELD.

The officers with which Company F of the Sixteenth-the Tuscarawas Guards-went to the field were Thomas W. Collier, Captain; Charles F. Espich, First Lieutenant; H. C. Hayden, Second Lieutenant. Capt. Collier resigned before the expiration of his term, and Capt. Ogden succeeded in the command of the company.

After a short stay of several weeks at Columbus, the Sixteenth, under the command of Col. Irvine, late of Coshocton, passed over the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad to Bellaire, where it remained several days; then crossed the river to Benwood, W. Va. The regiment proceeded to Wheeling, to co-operate with a Virginia regiment, Col. Kelly, in suppressing Confederate depredations. The two regiments advanced over the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad to near Glover's Gap, where they found the rebels had burned two bridges. "Burnt Bridges " remained their camp till the bridges were reconstructed, when an advance was made and Grafton reached May 30. Thence the Sixteenth proceeded to Philippi, and participated in the sharp, decisive engagement there, in which the rebels were driven back in confusion, losing all their camp equipage and 800 stand of arms. The regiment encamped at Rowlesburg, and soon after was engaged in skirmishing with the enemy, It was finally quartered at 'West Union.

The Romney skirmish, Philippi engagement and the defeat and capture of Col. Pegram's forces had the effect of consolidating the rebels under Gen. Garnett, north of Laurel Hill, near Philippi. Upon learning of Pegram's defeat and surrender, Gen. Garnett endeavored to escape to Richmond by plunging into the wild roads of the Alleghanies, and was rapidly descending the Cheat River when he was overtaken by the Union forces. The Sixteenth Ohio, encamped at West Union, was sitting down to its breakfast when the call to arms came, and the boys were forced to leave without a mouthful and make a hurried march to a point known as Red House, at which they were placed as a guard in the event the enemy made an attempt to escape by this route. Col. Steadman, with the Fourteenth Ohio, first charged upon Gen. Garnett's position, followed immediately by the entire body of the Union troops. For some time the battle raged with no decisive results, until Col. Dumont, with the Seventh Indiana, crept up on the right flank of the foe, when they turned and fled, only to meet the outlying posts at every defile of the mountains." After this engagement, the Sixteenth returned to Oakland and guarded the line of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad until its time of enlistment had expired. Company F reached home Saturday, August 3. They carried with them into New Philadelphia a rebel flag captured by the company near Laurel Hill, Va.

Within two days after its return, two members of Company F - William Carrigan and Thomas Cramblit - died of disease contracted in the army, the former August 4, at Uhrichsville, the latter August 5. Cramblit had been sent home from Camp Jackson, Columbus, before the company entered the field. on account of sickness. He was a lad only eighteen years of age, in poor health, but was eager to rejoin his company, and had returned as soon as he was able.

Company I of the Thirtieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was enlisted in Tuscarawas County, and was composed largely of members of Company F, Sixteenth Regiment. ...